White House Accused of Editing Video to Hide Trump Boos

Clips show mixed reaction as president attends Kennedy Center event

Apr. 1, 2026 at 11:35am

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The White House has been accused of using a 'sneaky trick' to drown out the boos from President Donald Trump's recent visit to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Video shared by the White House showed a mostly cheering crowd, but other footage revealed loud jeers and disapproval mixed in with the applause as Trump took his seat.

Why it matters

The incident highlights ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and its critics, as the president has sought to exert more control over the iconic Kennedy Center by putting his name on the facade and overhauling the programming. The White House's apparent attempt to downplay the negative reaction raises questions about transparency and the administration's efforts to manage its public image.

The details

During Trump's visit to the Kennedy Center on Tuesday night for the premiere of the musical Chicago, video shared by the official White House news account on X showed the president and first lady Melania Trump being warmly received by the crowd. However, other footage from reporters on the scene captured loud boos and jeers mixed in with the cheers as Trump entered. It appears the White House selectively edited its video to emphasize the positive reaction and drown out the dissent.

  • President Trump and Melania Trump attended the Kennedy Center event on Tuesday night.
  • The White House shared its video of the event on X shortly after.

The players

President Donald Trump

The 79-year-old president who has sought to exert more control over the Kennedy Center, including putting his name on the facade and overhauling the programming.

Melania Trump

The 55-year-old first lady who accompanied the president to the Kennedy Center event.

Rapid Response 47

An official White House news account on X that shared a video of the president's Kennedy Center visit.

Reagan Reese

A reporter for the Daily Caller who was present at the Kennedy Center and shared video showing both cheers and boos for the president.

Eric Daugherty

A MAGA journalist who shared his own account of the crowd's reaction, claiming the president was 'ABSOLUTELY ERUPTED' with cheers.

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What they’re saying

“President Trump enters the Kennedy Center to loud cheers. Some boos, but the crowd drowned them out with more cheers.”

— Reagan Reese, Daily Caller reporter

“The man of the hour everywhere he goes.”

— Eric Daugherty, MAGA journalist

What’s next

The White House's actions in editing the video footage are likely to face further scrutiny, with questions raised about transparency and the administration's efforts to control its public image.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and its critics, as the president seeks to exert more influence over institutions like the Kennedy Center. The apparent attempt to downplay the negative reaction raises concerns about the White House's commitment to accurately representing public sentiment.